Flourishing Families

29/04/2023

Do you want a cheat sheet on soothing your new baby? Here it is!

Sometimes we will have fed and changed our baby, they may need some help regulating their own responses. The Five S’s were made famous by Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby On the Block (book and video we highly recommend for new and experienced parents alike) The Five S’s are here to remind us of some easy actions that help babies settle, soothe and calm. Each of the Five S’s remind your baby of their familiar life in the womb.

What are the Five S’s?

Shush - a loud, consistent shushing noise, a white noise machine will work better than a room fan

Side lying or Stomach lying - as opposed to laying/supporting the baby on their back

Swaddle - a blanket or special swaddle system helps relax and calm their bodies

Swaying - yes, your baby is soothed by movement

Sucking - one a baby’s strongest and most soothing reflexes

Pro tip! The Five S’s work best together to recreate the feeling of safety and security of the womb.

Fathers, partners, grandparents and caregivers can all use the Five S’s to help calm and soothe the new baby. Babies appreciate sensitive and consistent care for everyone in their life!

27/04/2023

When delivering your baby through a surrogate, there are still decisions to make regarding labor and immediate postpartum. Let us help you work with your surrogate to create that plan.

26/04/2023

25/04/2023

Something that is unique to our birthing class is how the class starts. Yes, we cover anatomy, stages of labor, and comfort measures. But before we dive into any of that, we start with you and your partner. We spend some time learning communication styles, personality types, and decision making spectrums that will allow the two of you to communicate and prepare more effectively. Over time we have found this insight makes a world of difference in how you and your partner will approach the birth of your baby.

Find out more on our website

Link: https://bit.ly/3K76MS7

24/04/2023

How can I manage a newborn and also feed myself and my family easily? What are my options for quick, healthy, easy go-to meals and snacks? Holy cow, three meals a day? https://www.flourishingfamilies.co/blog/tips-and-tricks-for-feeding-yourself-while-your-feeding-a-newborn-baby

23/04/2023

Oh, those first few weeks days and weeks after conception! Some folks notice these early changes, especially if they are tracking their fertility. Some folks might not notice much out of the ordinary until a missed period or a positive pregnancy test. Either way, your body is hard at work to change and support this growing pregnancy.

What tipped you off to the possibility of pregnancy? Was it something physical, like fatigue or breast changes? Was it something emotional, like irritability? Or was it something less tangible, like an inner knowing or a dream? What did your partner notice first?

22/04/2023

f you have been stashing your freezer full of breastmilk, heads up! Proper storage only gets you half of the way there. It needs to be thawed safely as well.

You don’t want to waste one drop of that goodness because you (or someone else!) thawed it incorrectly. You do not want to be that person!

Your breast milk deserves better than that.

General Rules of Thawing Breast Milk

- FIFO - “first in, first out”.
- Don’t thaw at room temp - defrost in the refrigerator or a bowl of warm water
- No hot spots - microwaves and boiling water can cause hot spots that can harm your baby.
- Use it or lose it

Make sure all caregivers (partners, grandparents, baby sitters, etc) know how to thaw breast milk safely

Breast milk is a precious resource. Make sure you take good care of it.

20/04/2023

I was talking on a podcast the other day with a group of women and one of the things we talked about was support. Whether you're having surgery or a baby or maybe just going through a hard time. Sometimes, when we ask someone or make the statement, " let me know if you need anything" adds an extra layer of stress to the person's mental mind load. Simply just showing up or being more specific can make all the difference. For example: I am going to bring dinner, is Monday or Wednesday better for you?

18/04/2023

We have the perfect class for you if you are considering breastfeeding. Your breastfeeding experience should be a positive one. For many, it can be frustrating, physically exhausting, and in the end, a painful memory of what could have been. This course provides education, helpful tips, things to look out for, how to’s, and more! We want to help you prepare so that no matter how long you are able to breastfeed, you look back on it with a positive light knowing you accomplished what you wanted to for you and your baby.

Find out more at https://bit.ly/40zGqhA

17/04/2023

Take a walk as this brave mother shares her journey of going into preterm labor and navigates the NICU as a first-time parent. https://www.flourishingfamilies.co/blog/nicu-mom-shares-her-story